American Symphony (film)

Last updated

American Symphony
American symphony poster.jpg
Release poster
Directed by Matthew Heineman
Produced by
  • Matthew Heineman
  • Lauren Domino
  • Joedan Okun
Starring Jon Batiste
Cinematography
  • Tony Hardman
  • Matthew Heineman
  • Thorsten Thielow
Edited by
  • Sammy Dane
  • Matthew Heineman
  • Jim Hession
  • Fernando Villegas
Music byJon Batiste
Production
companies
Distributed by Netflix
Release dates
  • August 31, 2023 (2023-08-31)(Telluride)
  • November 29, 2023 (2023-11-29)
Running time
104 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Symphony is a 2023 American biographical documentary film, written, shot, and edited by Matthew Heineman. It explores a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste, his music career, and his wife's struggle with leukemia.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023, and was released by Netflix on November 29, 2023. The film received a Best Original Song nomination at the 96th Academy Awards.

Premise

Explores a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste, chronicling his career in music (including his 11 nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards) and the struggles his wife, Suleika Jaouad, faces with leukemia.

Release

American Symphony had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023. [2] Shortly after, Netflix and Higher Ground Productions acquired distribution rights to the film. [3] It was released on November 29, 2023. [4]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 93% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.2/10.The website's consensus reads: "More than a standard musician's documentary, American Symphony uses its behind-the-scenes access to present a portrait of courage and creativity." [5] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [6]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards March 10, 2024 Best Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away")Nominated [7]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists January 3, 2024Best DocumentaryAmerican SymphonyWon [a] [8]
American Cinema Editors March 3, 2024 Best Edited Documentary (Theatrical) Sammy Dane, Matthew Heineman, Jim Hession, and Fernando VillegasNominated [9]
Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards January 6, 2024 Best Documentary FeatureAmerican SymphonyNominated [10]
Black Film Critics Circle December 20, 2023Best DocumentaryWon [11]
Black Reel Awards January 16, 2024 Outstanding Documentary Feature Nominated [12]
Outstanding Score Jon BatisteNominated
Outstanding Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away")Nominated
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival January 2, 2024Best Documentary FeatureAmerican SymphonyWon [13]
[14]
Cinema Audio Society Awards March 2, 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Picture – Documentary Tom Paul, Tristan Baylis, and Ryan CollisonNominated [15]
Cinema Eye Honors January 12, 2024 Outstanding ProductionLauren Domino, Matthew Heineman, and Joedan OkunNominated [16]
Outstanding Original ScoreJon BatisteNominated
Audience Choice PrizeAmerican SymphonyNominated
The UnforgettablesJon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad Won
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards November 12, 2023 Best Documentary Feature American SymphonyNominated [17]
Best Music DocumentaryWon
Best Director Matthew HeinemanNominated
Best ScoreJon BatisteWon
Best CinematographyTony Hardmon, Matthew Heineman, and Thorsten ThielowNominated
Best EditingSammy Dane, Jim Hession, Matthew Heineman, and Fernando VillegasNominated
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association December 18, 2023 Best Documentary Film American SymphonyWon [18]
Denver Film Critics Society January 12, 2024Best Documentary FeatureNominated [19]
Golden Reel Awards March 3, 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Documentary Ignacio BonetNominated [20]
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary Tristan Baylis, Tom Paul, Leslie Bloome, Matt Snedecor, and Mark FilipNominated
Grammy Awards February 2, 2025 Best Music Film Jon Batiste, Matthew Heineman, Lauren Domino, and Joedan OkunPending [21]
Best Song Written for Visual Media Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away")Pending
Houston Film Critics Society January 22, 2024 Best Documentary FeatureAmerican SymphonyNominated [22]
[23]
Indiana Film Journalists Association December 17, 2023Best DocumentaryNominated [24]
[25]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society December 13, 2023Best DocumentaryNominated [26]
Middleburg Film Festival October 22, 2023Documentary Spotlight AwardMatthew HeinemanWon [27]
Montclair Film Festival October 30, 2023Audience Award – Documentary FeatureAmerican SymphonyWon [28]
Documentary Filmmaker AwardMatthew HeinemanWon
NAACP Image Awards March 16, 2024 Outstanding Documentary (Film) American SymphonyNominated [29]
North Texas Film Critics Association December 18, 2023Best Documentary FilmNominated [30]
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle January 3, 2024Best DocumentaryWon [31]
Philadelphia Film Festival October 29, 2023Audience Award – Documentary FeatureWon [32]
Producers Guild of America Awards February 25, 2024 Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures Won [33]
San Diego Film Critics Society December 19, 2023 Best DocumentaryNominated [34]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards January 9, 2024 Best Documentary Film Nominated [35]
Satellite Awards March 3, 2024 Best Motion Picture – Documentary Nominated [36]
Best Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away")Nominated
Best Sound (Editing and Mixing) Tristan Baylis, Matt Snedecor, and William TzourisNominated
Society of Composers & Lyricists February 13, 2024Outstanding Original Score for an Independent FilmJon BatisteNominated [37]
Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media ProductionJon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away")Nominated
St. Louis Film Critics Association December 17, 2023 Best Documentary FilmAmerican SymphonyWon [b] [38]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle February 12, 2024 Best Documentary Nominated [39]
Virginia Film Festival October 29, 2023Audience Award – Documentary FeatureWon [40]
Directorial Achievement AwardMatthew HeinemanWon
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards December 10, 2023 Best Documentary American SymphonyNominated [41]
Woodstock Film Festival September 30, 2023Audience Award – Best Documentary FeatureWon [42]
World Soundtrack Awards October 17, 2024 Best Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away")Nominated [43]

Notes

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References

  1. ↑ "American Symphony (12A)". BBFC . November 3, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Davis, Clayton (August 30, 2023). "Telluride Lineup Includes World Premieres of 'Saltburn,' 'The Bikeriders' and 'Rustin' With Tributes for Yorgos Lanthimos and Wim Wenders". Variety . Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (September 18, 2023). "Jon Batiste Doc 'American Symphony' Acquired by Netflix and Higher Ground; Oscar Run Set for This Season". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ Davis, Clayton (October 12, 2023). "Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson Enter Oscars Race for Original Song With Netflix Doc 'American Symphony'". Variety . Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ "American Symphony". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved November 30, 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  6. ↑ "American Symphony". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Oscar Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here". Vanity Fair . January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ Merin, Jennifer (December 22, 2023). "2023 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists . Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ Pond, Steve (January 25, 2024). "ACE Eddie Awards 2024: The Complete List of Nominees". TheWrap . Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ Anderson, Erik (December 7, 2023). "'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ Complex, Valerie (December 20, 2023). "Black Film Critics Circle Winners: American Fiction Takes Home Top Honors". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  12. ↑ Complex, Valerie (December 15, 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "OPPENHEIMER DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TO BE HONORED WITH THE "CAPRI BEST ENSEMBLE CAST AWARD 2023"" (Press release). Capri Hollywood International Film Festival. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  14. ↑ "A Capri trionfa Oppenheimer con 7 Awards, poi Barbie e Maestro". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (in Italian). January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  15. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (January 9, 2024). "Cinema Audio Society Awards Nominations: Barbie, Oppenheimer, The Eras Tour & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  16. ↑ Saperstein, Pat (November 16, 2023). "'Kokomo City' Leads Nominations for Cinema Eye Documentary Honors". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  17. ↑ Zilko, Christian (November 13, 2023). "'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie' Sweeps the Critics Choice Documentary Awards (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  18. ↑ Jorgenson, Todd (December 18, 2023). "DFW Film Critics Name The Holdovers Best Picture of 2023". Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association . Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 12, 2024). "The 2023 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  20. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (January 16, 2024). "Oppenheimer Dominates Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards Nominations". Variety . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  21. ↑ Willman, Chris (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: Beyonce Leads With 11 Nods as Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX Are Among Top Nominees". Variety . Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  22. ↑ Darling, Cary (January 9, 2024). "Barbie, Oppenheimer lead Houston Film Critics Society's nominations". Houston Chronicle . Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  23. ↑ Darling, Cary (January 22, 2024). "Houston Film Critics Society names Poor Things the best film of 2023". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  24. ↑ Rogers, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  25. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  26. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 13, 2023). "The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  27. ↑ Davis, Clayton (October 23, 2023). "Cord Jefferson's 'American Fiction' Wins Audience Award at Middleburg Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ "2023 Montclair Film Festival Award Winners Announced! | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  29. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  30. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 18, 2023). "The 2023 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  31. ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2024). "The 2023 Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  32. ↑ Bogg, Smalley (November 1, 2023). "Winners of the Philadelphia Film Festival Awards". phindie. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  33. ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (January 12, 2024). "PGA Awards 2024 Nominations: Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Past Lives Among Contenders". IndieWire . Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  34. ↑ Anderson, Erik (December 15, 2023). "San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  35. ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  36. ↑ "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 28th Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy . December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  37. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 21, 2023). "The 2023 Society Of Composers And Lyricists (SCL) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  38. ↑ Anderson, Eric (December 10, 2023). "2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". awardswatch.com. AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  39. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (January 22, 2024). "Oppenheimer Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations With Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  41. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 9, 2023). "The 2023 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Award Winners from the 24th Annual Woodstock Film Festival". Woodstock Film Festival. October 1, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Discover the first nominees for the 2024 World Soundtrack Awards!". World Soundtrack Awards. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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